Opinion

Next January, Barry County will have a new presiding commissioner. Who will it be? That’s for you to decide.

Cassville has always been a good baseball community. Even as far back as Mineral Springs playing Star City, the true Blues of the semi-pro KOMA league, the town team Blues, and the American Legion team.

An exciting and adventurous look outward this week was tempered with news that should force us to look inward just as hard. On Monday, NASA released the first photo from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the deepest infrared image of the universe ever.

It’s difficult to believe that one of the best representatives of Cassville and Barry County was operating nearly 60 years ago. The Barry County Sheriff’s Posse, which lasted through three sheriffs and covered 18 years, was one of the best diplomats for this area that ever existed. Unfortunately, changes in lifestyle and interests of individuals and groups permitted the Posse to fade out of the picture.

Most voters are passionate. Whether for a specific candidate, issue or tax, motivations for voting span the gamut.

If anyone needs some excitement in their life, a suggestion might be to get to one of the new, modern theaters and buy a ticket to see Maverick. Not familiar with the title? It’s a continuation of the initial movie about Naval Aviation.

My competitive nature was nurtured through years of playing team sports, mainly soccer, in my youth. Newspaper staffs are also a team in many ways, and while the team awards are the best, individual recognitions are icing on the cake.

Independence, as Americans know it today, didn’t come in an inexpensive nature. In fact, our freedoms might well be the costliest element of our lives. Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence right through current time as we get ready to observe July 4th this year, people have made sacrifices that are above and beyond what many might realize.

These days, Saturday night is nothing special in Cassville, not like it once was 70 or so years ago when the town, at least parts of the square, was hopping with activities. Of particular interest was the south side of the square.

I am competitive. I always have been, and I always will be. As I was submitting our entries into the Missouri Press Association Contest for this year, I was excited about the quality of our content and the prospect of another successful year.